Sunday, January 28, 2018

Canadian Evangelicals Bucking National Trends, But Warning Signs Ahead

The
story of Christianity in Canada over the past 60 years or so is well known—a
story of numerical decline.

But
one group of Christians has managed to weather the storm—Evangelicals.

Over
the past number of decades, while other denominations have seen their
memberships drop, the Evangelical portion of the Canadian population has
remained steady.

What’s
their secret?

That’s
what Sam Reimer, a professor of sociology at Crandall University in New
Brunswick, and Michael Wilkinson,
professor of sociology and director of the Religion in Canada Institute at Trinity Western University, decided to find out.

Based
on national research and interviews with over 500 pastors, they show that while
many denominations are in trouble in Canada today, Evangelical groups are
showing greater resiliency—although there are warning signs ahead.

I
spoke to Reimer about their findings. Why, I asked, are Evangelicals doing
better than other groups?

“Members
of Evangelical churches are more likely to be committed and involved in their
congregations,” he says, adding that for many their church is a “hub” for religious
and social activity.

At
the same time, members go to church more often than is the case for other
church groups, and are more likely to volunteer for church programs—something
that is important if church going to experience vitality.

But
while things are going better for Evangelicals than for other denominations,
his research shows trouble on the horizon.

One
challenge is leadership. “All Evangelical denominations report that fewer
people are going to seminary,” he says.

As
many boomers get set to retire as clergy, this is a challenges since there are
“fewer leaders to replace them.”

Another
challenge is retaining youth.

Although
Evangelicals do a much better job of keeping their young people than mainstream
denominations, research shows that about a third leave the church by the time
they enter their 20s, he says.

Then
there is the general lack of interest in religion in Canada.

“Few
people go to church regularly, and being religious no longer a normative choice
for many,” he notes, adding that this is especially true for younger people.

What
about evangelism? If there’s any one thing that characterizes Evangelicals,
it’s a commitment to sharing their faith. Will that help them keep up their
numbers?

Reimer
says no. His research shows that only one out of ten newcomers comes from a
non-church background, or from another faith.

According
to Reimer, seven out of ten newcomers come from other churches—the so-called
“circulation of the saints”—while two out of ten are people who grew up in a
congregation.

Evangelism,
he says “is not a big conduit for growth,” adding the research shows that
evangelical churches might hope to add one to two real converts per year—at most.

And
yet, he explains, “evangelism is fundamental to who they are. Even the rare
convert can re-vitalize a church.”

Another
challenging issue, Reimer shares, is whether Evangelicals should be more
welcoming of LGBTQ* Canadians.

“Without
a doubt this is a major source of tension” in Evangelical churches, he says.

“Younger
Evangelicals have more lenient views than older members on this issue.”

It’s
also going to be a growing source of tension between evangelical churches and the
larger society, he adds.

“It’s
very hard for churches to maintain any sort of positive public presence when
they are perceived to be anti-LGBTQ*,” he says.

“It’s
hard win new converts if a church is seen as intolerant and bigoted.”

Based
on the research, it’s “very likely” Evangelicals will “decline in future,” he
concludes, although the decline will be slower than what happened to mainline
denominations.

“They
are at the top of the hill now, or the bubble, just starting to go downhill.”

When
Reimer talks to denominational leaders, he says they aren’t surprised at his
findings.

“Not
a lot say they can’t believe it,” he says.

Reimer,
who attends an Evangelical church, is quick to add that his analysis is through
the eyes of a sociologist.

“What
I am saying is descriptive, not proscriptive. I’m just identifying the trends,
where we are now and where we are going.”

Through
the eyes of faith, he states, “God can do things we don’t expect.” From the Jan. 27, 2018 Winnipeg Free Press.